Vehicle braking apparatus



Aug 5, 1952 E. W. sMlTH VEHICLE BRAKING APPARATUS Filed July 2l, 1947 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 2,605,860- vEHIcLE BRAKING APPARATUS Earl W. Smith, Fresno, Calif., assignor of onehalf to Louis Dopyera, Jackson, Wyo.

Application July 21, l1947,.'ser1fa1No. 762,371

8 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle braking apparatus and it is a general object of .theinvention to pro-vide a simple, practical, eifective vehicle 'brake or stop having a cushioned action reliev- .ingvthe structure and the vehicle of excessivek strain. Y

. This invention relates to lthe general type of ferred to involving a pivoted arm construction coupling the mat to the vehicle and serving to effectively support the mat in position for the desired action under the wheels of the vehicle.

Another object o-f the present invention is to provide apparatus of the general character referred to in which the parts are so arranged and related that gravity acts on the mats and the supporting arms to move these parts into working position, making springs or other actuatingV means unnecessary.

The various objects and features of my invention will `be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughoutl which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in whichf Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typical commercial vehicle showing rear wheels thereof equipped with the braking apparatus provided by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the rear portion of the vehicle showing the braking apparatus of the present invention applied or in Working position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional View taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is anl enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the equipment provided by the present invention, being a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a plan sec-A tion of the equipment, being a view taken as indicated by line 5-5 Von Fig. 4. Fig. 6 isan enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated byline E-S on Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken as indicated by line'I-j'I on Fig. 4. l

The present invention is applicable, generally, to motor vehicles and it is particularly useful and practical as applied to commer-cial vehicles or trucks which are exceedingly diiicult Ito adequately brake'with equipment ordinarily available. The "apparatus providedv by the present invention is such that it may be applied to or operated in connection with various wheels of a vehicle, it being preferred ordinarily that it be applied to `wheels at the rear end portion of a vehicle.

In the drawings I have shown one simple or typical application of the structure that I have provided and I have there illustrated a vehicle of a modern commercial type, being a heavy motor vehicle involving, generally, a tractor or power unit A and a trailer or trailing unit B partially supported and drawn by the unit A. The particular tractor unit A shown in the drawings involves a frame I0 supported at its forward end yby front wheels II and atits rear end by two pairs of rear wheels I2. The frame carries a cab I3 and an engine hood I4 arranged and related in the manner common to devices of this character. The trailer unit B involves, generally, a load carrying body I5 mounted on an elongate frame I6, the rear end portion of the frame being supported by two pairs of rear wheels I1 while the forward end portion of the frame is supported on o-r from the tractor A through a suitable swivel connection I8.

As above pointed out, the equipment provided by this invention may be applied to various wheels of the vehicle and various numbers of units embodying the invention may be employed. As a typical application of the present invention I have shown units located and arranged to cooperate with the forward pair of rear wheels I7.

The structure of the present invention involves, generally, a xed base member 20 preferably in the form of a beam and preferably applied to the frame of the vehicle 'being braked, as for instance to the frame I6, to extend transversely thereof. In the typical simple arrangement illustrated braking units are carried by the beam and each includes one or more arms 2| .pivo-tally carried by the frame and a tread member or mat 22 coupled to the arms preferably by a cross head 23, or the like.

The base member or beam 20 is preferably a simple, elongate'rigid part, say for example a tubular member carried by thevehicle frame I6 to extend transversely thereof and to have end portions 25 projecting from or beyond the sides of the frame.Y In the particular case illustrated The end portions 25 of the beam project a sucstantial distance laterally from the vframe i so that they extend to positions forward oi the wheels Il that are to be braked. In practice the wheels l'l are multiple wheels, that is, each wheel involves two or more tires in which case the end portions are of substantial length. to provide braces 2S to stifen and further support'the projecting end portions 25 of the beam. In the arrangement illustrated there Ais a'single brace at each side of the frame I6 and each brace is provided with a plate portion S2 suitably secured or anchored to the frame it at a point forward of the beam. rEhel brace extends outwardly and rearwardly from thel plate portionfd to the end portion of the beam remote orV spaced I prefer v from the frame ES where the brace has a portion Se surrounding the beam as clearly illustrated in the drawings. It will beapparent that the brace 29 may be varied widely in form and design and may engage the projecting portion of the beam at various poii'its'alongits length- The arrangement shown in the Vdrawings is typical `and is one in which the brace engages the projecting end portion 25 at a point about midway between its ends. l

Each unit carried by a projecting end portion of the beam preferably involves one ormore arms 2l, the arms being elongate rigid elements pivotally connected to the end portion of the beam and serving as a coupling between the mat 22 and the beam. In the drawings where I show a typical arrangement there are two arms 2l of like construction one carried onthe inner part of beamY portion 275 and theother carried on the outer part of b eain portion 25 so that one occursfinward of the bracket'part'd while the other occurs out-;

Ward thereof.

Each arm 2l isa iiuid pressure mechanism and as shown in the drawingsit may involve an elongate cylinder 36 provided at its inner end with a head 3l having a bore 32 receiving the end portion 25 of the beam. The outer end portion of the cylinder 3p is provided with ya `closure or cap 33. A piston 3d operates in the cylinder V3!) kand is carried on a piston rod 3 5 which is slidablyca-rried inthe cap 3 3. i.

In accordance with my invention the piston 34 divides the cylinder i intor yan outer or pressure chamber 3 and an inner receiving chamber 31. v

In accordance with my invention Vthe structure is such that as the deviceoperates the piston `v:ill

may inove outwardlyY in the cylinder 30 but its movement is retarded or checked by fluid [in the pressure chamber 35. t

Any suitable by-pass connection may be provided between the end portions of the cylinder 3Q; it being preferred, 'in practice,` to .provide bypass means in the piston. In the case illustrated the piston is shown as involving a" piston hea-d 49 carried on the end of rod 35 and carrying a suitable packing ring 3.

munication with the pressure chamber 3'5 'through ports 5. A retainer tjis threaded on theend of rod 35 and retainsk the head 1li) on the rod.V The The head do is formed with an annular chamberjfi `infreecom- "i0 gether rtinto 'a mat, 'preferably rectangular 'in retainer is provided withione 'orimore Acontrol;

ports 4i thatcommunicat'e with the chamber,

I have shown stopcollars inodate the desired flow of .eiland maybe of substantial size whereas if air is thefluid employed the ports il may be rather small so that they y,allow very little escape of air upon rapid operation of the apparatus, and consequently cause the air inchamber 3% to be compressed and thereby have a checking effect, the compressed air being allowed to escape through the ports 4'! after the device is fully operated.

Where a plurality of arms 2l such as I have just referred to are employed in the construction it is desirable to employ a web or spacer 56 betweenrthem which element may be xed to the cylindertil and may be shaped and-proportioned to extend betweenl the cylinders keeping the arms the desired distance apart, keeping them parallel and keeping themin the same rotative position on the portion 25 of the beam. Further, inpractice Iprefer to provide stop collars El Yon the beam at each side of the heads 3l of `the cylinders which stop collars are provided with set screws'EB or the like so that they can be set in a manner Vto hold the unit in the desired position lengthwise of beam portion 25. In the drawings yat each side -of each headSl. Further, in practice I prefer toprovide cushion springs t@ in the'compression chambers 38 between the piston 34 and the cap 33. Imay if I so Ydesire provide springs that will have continuous engagement withA thecaps and the pistons to normally position the parts :as shown infFig. 4 or I may provide short springs, as illustrated in vthe drawings, adjacent the caps 33 which springs serve to supplement the cushioning action of the Vfluid 'in the cylinders and become fully compressed asY the device is fully operated, and when fully compressed they form positive stops limiting outward, movement of the rods 35 from the cylinder. --The cross head 23 is preferably provided pri- `niarily as an effective holder vfor the mat 22 and where two or morerarms 2i =are used it is -preferred that they each be joined to the cross head.

-In'theca'se illustrated each rod 35Yis provided .on its outer end with a coupling part 65 joined to v'the cross head 23 as by screw fasteners 65, or the are protectedand so that they no longer turn.

the -particular form of the invention illustrated 'I"h'ave'shown a mat 2 2.iormed ofr a `plurality of links which may -be 'chain-like links joined toshapej'an'd of such extent 'as to extend beneath the Wheelsto be braked whenthe device is operated, asshownj'infigi 2 ofthe drawings'l In accordance' with the' general 'arrangement Y provided Yby my invention when'the structure is out of ,operation the-arm 2| ,v or the units formed bythe several arms 2l`,is, up or horizontally' dis-l posed, assh'own in vFigi '1 ofl the drawings,`rand extends either forward or-rearward from the supe porting beam' as circumstances' require.l In the particular-case illustrated IY h'ave'"'shownan arrangement -wherein the arms 2l projectrearwardly from the beam. Asthe arms project horizontally orrearwardly-the pistons 34 fareat the inner ends ofthe cylinders 30 and the crosshead 23 is adjacent tliecaps33 at the outer ends ofthe cylindersfl'The mat 22 joined or linkedfto'the cross head 23 may depend loosely orfreelyfrom the cross head, it being preferred to shape and proportion4 the mat so that as it depends in the position shown in Fig. 1 it clears the ground or surface over which the vehicle voperates and is immediately forward of the wheels with which it is to cooperate, but does not touch them.

When the device is toy be operated the arms 2| are allowed to move down from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, which operation causes the lower end portion of the mat to engage the surface of the' pavement and to become caught beneathf the wheels I'l.,` As the mat enters beneath the 'wheels .I1 yrearward pressure or strain is placed upon `the-,cross head carrying the :mat with theresultthat the pistons 34 on the rojds` coupled to the cross head are moved rearwardly lin the cylinders, their movement being checked by the fluid action hereinabove described.

I provide a latch means for releasably retaining the arms or assembly of arms in the up position, as shown in Fig. 1. In the drawings I show a latch carried on a pivot pin located at a bracket l mounted on the frame I6. The latch has a head 12 which engages and' cooperates with the cross head 23, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and it has a lever arm 13 engaged by an operating line M A spring 15 normally yieldingly holds the latch in engaged position, as shown in Fig. 4. The operating line 14 extends through a suitable guide means 16 to the cab I3 of the tractor A where it may be equipped with a handle 80 or the like so that the operator can, whenever desired, operate the line to release the latch.

In accordance with the preferred form of my invention I provide a stop means serving to stop downward movement of the arms in position where the arms are in substantial alignment between the beam and the portion of the mat engaged under the wheels of the vehicle. The particular stop means illustrated in the drawings is a stop chain 3G having its upper end attached to a part of the vehicle, with the frame or body, and its lower end attached to the outer end portion of the unit formed by the cylinders 33 connected by the web 50.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the mechanism that I have prothe vehicle and the sudden severe forces communicated to the equipment are effectively absorbed trailer. l

6 or damped by the duid pressure means thatzI have .provided Y l 'i .Itwill be apparent that with the structure that .Ibai/e" providedthat inthe eventthe trailer B should becomedetached from the` tractor` Athe latch will release without manual operation. i. If `the two vehicles A'and B part while in motion the operating line is pulled taut thereby releasing thelatch A After the latch has been released further separation of thevvehicles will partor break the operating line. This self-acting character of the structure is a desirable safety feature which prevents runaway vehicles vsuch as a driverless VHaving descr-ibedonly a typical preferred form and application ofmy invention, I do not Wish to be limited Aor restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.V

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A structure applicable to a vehicle having a frame and avpair of supporting wheels including, a beam applicable to the frame to haveproje'cting end portions, a `mechanism on eachjend portion of the beam including'spaced pivotedarms, and a wheel engaging kmatcarried by the arms, each arm including a pivoted cylinder and a fluid controlledv piston operable inthe cylinder.

2. vA structure Y"applicable to 'a vehicle having a frame and a supporting wheel including, a beam applicable to the frame to extend transversely thereof forward of the supporting wheel, a chain mat engageable under the wheel, an arm pivotally carried by the beam. shock absorbing means supporting the mat from the outer end of the arm, and means normally releasably holding the arm in an up position substantially parallel with the frame and with the mat depending freely from the arm immediately forward of the wheel, the mat being engageable under the wheel by mere dropping of the arm. y

3. A structure applicable to a vehicle having a frame and a supporting Wheel including, a beam applicable to the frame to extend transversely thereof forward of the supporting wheel, a chain mat engageable under the Wheel, an arm pivotally carried by the beam and extending rearwardly therefrom and fluid pressure shock absorbing means carried by the arm and supporting the mat, the mat depending freely from the arm immediately forward of the wheel when the arm is horizontally disposed to catch under the wheel when lowered by lowering of the arm.

4. A structure applicable to a vehicle having a frame and a supporting Wheel including, a beam applicable to the frame to extend transversely thereof a substantial distance forward of the wheel, a mat engageable under the wheel, an arm carried by the beam to swing between an unactuated position where it extends rearwardly from the beam and issubstantially horizontal and an actuated position where it extends downwardly and rearwardly from the beam, the arm having a cylinder opening therein, and a piston operable in the cylinder opening against fluid carried therein, the mat being carried by the piston to normally depend therefrom.

5. A structure applicable to a vehicle having a frame and a supporting wheel including, a beam applicable to the frame to have an end portion projecting laterally therefrom a substantial a frame and a supporting wheel including, a

beam applicable to theY frame to have an end portion prejectinglaterally therefrom a substantial distance ahead-of the wheel, a brace between said projecting end por-tion of the beam and the frame, a iiuid pressureshock absorber pivotally carried by said projecting end portion to `extend rearwardly therefrom, a chain mat carried by the rear end of the shock absorber to normally hang freely therefrom to be engageable under the Wheel of the vehicle by downward movement of the shock absorber from an elevated position, and a releasable latch normally holding the shock absorber in the elevated position where the mat is clear of the wheelimmediatelyforward thereof.

7. A structure applicable to a vehicle having a frame. and a supporting wheel including, a beam applicable to the frame to have an end portion projecting laterally therefrom, a brace between said projecting end portion and the frame, a fluid pressure shock absorber pvotally carried by said end portion to extend rearwardly therefrom,

a chain mat carried by the rear end of the shock absorber to normally hang freely therefrom and a releasable latch normally holding the shock absorber in an elevated position where the mat is clear ofthe wheel, immediately forward thereof, and stop means for the shock labsorber stopping Vit in Vposition inline between the beam and the portion of the mat engaged Lunder the wheel.

Y LA structure applicable to a vehicle having a frame `and a supporting wheel including, a beamrapplicable to the frame, a chain mat engageable under the wheel,y a cylinder pivoted to the beam, and a pistonoperable inthe cylinder against fluid carried therein, the mat being carriedvby the piston and normally hanging freely therefrom, the piston having a fluid bypass opening therethrough.

EARL W. SMITH,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in Vthe lc of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

